Advances in transesophageal echocardiographic imaging

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has emerged as a valuable complement to trans-thoracic echocardiography (TTE) and expanded our ability to visual the heart with ultrasound. TEE provides high resolution imaging with minimal attenuation from non cardiac structures, and allows detailed visualization of cardiac structures and flow disorders not well seen with TTE. While developments in transesophageal imaging over the last 3 decades have led to established clinical indications for TEE, recent advances in TEE including: 1) new applications of trans-thoracic methodologies in TEE; 2) innovations in TEE technology, and 3) advances in clinical care of cardiovascular disease, have all contributed to exciting new clinical applications of TEE. This review provides an overview of the advances in TEE technology and the current and emerging clinical applications of TEE.